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THE   UNIYERSITY. 


DISCOURSE    BV  DR.    TAPPAN. 


THE  UNIVERSITY; 


ITS 


CONSTITUTIOlSr, 


AXD    ITS 


RELATIONS,  POLITICAL  AND  RELIGIOUS: 

A    DISCOUKSE 

Delivered  June  22d,  1858, 

AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE 

CHRISTIAN    LIBRARY    ASSOCIATION, 


By    HENRY    P.    TAPPAN, 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  MICHI3AW.  ' 


.    ,  >  ^      ,  ,   '        3    ^     J 

*    '       ^  ^      4   J   1       \        •< 


Published  by  the  Regents  at  the  request  of  the  Alamnl* 


ANN  ARBOR : 

FEINTED  BY  S.  B.  McCRACKEN. 

1858. 


«    •      <    « 


DISCOURSE. 


GrENTLEMEN  OF  THE  BoARD  OF  ReGENTS,  OF  THE     FaCULTY,    AND    OP 

THE  Christian  Library  Associatioij  : 

It  will  not  be  deemed  superfluous,  at  the  outset  of  my  discourse, 
to  recall  to  your  minds,  as  well  as  to  inform  the  public,  of  the 
origin  of  this  association. 

The  original  organization  of  a  religious  character  was  that  of  the 
Society  of  Inquiry  for  missions.  This  society  existed  for  a  number 
of  years  and  was  conducted  with  various  degrees  of  efficiency  and 
success.  The  order  of  exercises  required  monthly  reports  on  Chris- 
tian missions  which  were  delivered  in  public  by  students  appointed 
for  that  purpose  by  the  members.  A  curious  feature  of  this  organ- 
ization was  that,  although  its  objects  apparently  were  calculated  to 
interest  only  religious  students,  and  especially  those  who  were 
contemplating  the  gospel  ministry,  it  admitted  members  with  little 
or  no  discrimination.  Many  excellent  reports  were  indeed  read ; 
but  the  diversity  of  character  and  views  which  the  association  nec- 
essarily embraced  were  adverse  to  that  harmony  and  energy  which 
are  essential  to  success  and  which  can  be  secured  only  by  a  unity 
in  the  governing  principle. 

During  the  present  collegiate  year,  by  common  consent  the  Society 
of  Inquiry  wa^bolished.  After  this  the  Christian  Association 
was  organized.  This  differs  from  the  former  organization  both  in 
its  terms  of  admission,  and  in  its  objects.  It  is  composed  of  stu- 
dents who  are  members  of  Christian  churches,  or  who,  at  least, 
profess  to  be  aiming  at  a  religious  life  as  a  cardinal  interest. 


ivi202122 


Its  objects  too,  are  more  comprehensive ;  and,  while  not  discarding 
Christian  missions,  embrace  general  religious  cultivation,  and  espe- 
cially in  relation  to  collegiate  life.  By  this  association  religious 
students  will  be  led  to  know  each  other  more  intimately,  to  cherish 
a  more  lively  interest  in  each  others  welfare,  to  watch  over  and 
sustain  each  other,  and  to  co-operate  in  all  wise  and  legitimate 
methods  of  promoting  religion  in  the  University  generally. 

But  the  new  movement  did  not  stop  here.  The  deficiency  of  the 
University  Library,  and  of  the  Libraries  of  the  Students'  Societies, 
in  religious  books,  arrested  the  attention  of  professors  and  students, 
and  of  certain  friends  of  the  University.  These  libraries,  like  those 
of  similar  institutions,  consisted  mainly  of  scientific  works,  and 
works  of  general  literature. 

It  would  be  difl5.cult,  if  not  impossible,  to  supply  this  deficiency 
from  the  general  funds  of  the  University.  A  State  institution  and 
not  designed  to  be  controlled  by  any  particular  religious  denomina- 
tion— an  attempt,  on  its  part,  to  supply  religious  books  might  stir  up 
denominational  prejudices,  and  lead  to  a  conflict  of  denominational 
interests  inimical  to  its  peace  and  prosperity.  If  the  Students'  Lit- 
erary Societies  were  to  attempt  it,  the  religious  and  secular  ele- 
ments would  be  liable  to  constant  disagreement  respecting  the  prop- 
er proportion  of  religious  and  secular  books. 

A  new  association,  therefoi-e,  having  this  for  its  leading  object 
seemed  to  be  the  only  way  of  meeting  the  exigency.  This  associa- 
tion is  open  to  all  who  choose  to  enter  into  it,  and  is  formed  upon 
principles  so  simple  and  catholic  that  there  seems  tobe  no  just  ground 
of  apprehension  for  its  success. 

The  annual  subscription  of  the  members  will  contribute  a  steady, 
although  not  a  very  large  fund,  for  purchasing  books ;  the  wise  and 
good  from  different  parts  of  the  country  will  make  donations,  from 
time  to  time,  in  money  and  books ;  authors  and  publishers  will  not 
forget  us ;  and  thus,  from  various  sources  there  will  be  collected,  aa 
we  hope,  and  continue  to  grow,  a  library  composed  of  the  varied, 
remarkable,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  rich  and  magnificent  literature 
which  has  sprung  from  religious  ideas  and  the  word  of  God  ;  and 
for  which  our  English  tongue  is  distinguished,  perhaps,  beyond  all 
other  forms  of  human  speech. 


5  

Indeed,  gentlemen,  our  University  is  like  the  Virgin  Earth  when 
Eden  was  planted — when  the  hand  of  God  sowed  tlie  soil  with  seeds 
which  should  germinate  and  multiply  into  boundless  bounty  and 
beauty  throughout  the  coming  generations. 

We  who  are  called  to  the  work  of  building  up  this  University, 
are  instruments  of  a  Divine  benignity  working  for  the  future  through 
the  present ;  and  if  we  do  our  work  truly  and  uprightly,  are  sowing  ' 
seeds  of  knowledge  and  of  just  and  fundamental  principles  in  this 
new  and  virgin  region  for  all  time  to  come ;  and  surrounding  our- 
selves with  such  rich  and  hallowed  memories,  that  men  of  after  ages 
will  rise  up  and  call  us  blessed.  We  must  look  for  something  far 
'  higher  than  temporary  expedients,  or  to  gain  a  Tain  and  fleeting 
reputation  in  our  own  day.  If  we  build  on  a  false  foundation,  our 
work  will  perish,  and  oui"  names  be  dishonored :  For  we  cannot  pre- 
vent the  ultimate  and  righteous  judgement  of  history.  If  we  build 
fairly  and  truly  our  work  shall  live  and  we  shall  live  with  it. 

Of  all  mere  human  institutions  there  are  none  so  important  and 
mighty  in  their  influence  as  Universities ;  because,  when  rightly 
constituted,  they  are  made  up  of  the  most  enlightened,  and  the  choic- 
est spirits  of  our  race ;  they  embrace  the  means  of  all  human 
culture,  and  they  act  dii-ectly  upon  the  fresh  and  upspringing  man- 
hood of  a  nation.  To  them  must  be  traced  science,  literature,  and 
art ;  the  fui-niture  of  religious  faith ;  the  lights  of  industry ;  the  mov- 
ing forces  of  civilization ;  and  the  brotherly  unity  of  humanity. 

Do  we  ask,  what  are  their  grand  constituents  ?  There  is  but  , 
one  reply — scholars  and  books.  Wherever  you  collect  the  treasures 
of  knowledge,  and  the  men  who  know  how  to  use  and  apply 
them,  there,  and  there  only,  you  have  properly  a  University.  The 
organization  is  simple;  for  the  power  employed  is  self-governing — 
self-directing  :  like  the  element  of  light,  give  it  room,  and  it  makes 
its  unerring  way.  Hence  it  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Uni- 
versities, that  they  have  been  the  work  of  individuals  rather  than  of 
governments.  Goverments  may  charter  and  endow  them;  but 
scholars  must  mould  them  and  build  them  up.  Governments  may 
provide,  and  should  provide  that  the  two  great  constituents — schol- 
ars and  books — be  made  sure  and  ample  ;  but  after  that,  let  them 


6 

have  freedom  and  scope  for  the  work  which  scholars  only  can  accom- 
plish. Let  there  be  no  jealous  and  tyrannical  interference ;  let 
there  be  no  religious  or  political  tests  ;  let  there  be  no  barbarous 
attempt  to  harness  the  winged  Pegasus  to  the  drag  of  beggarly 
elements.  Knowledge  can  flourish  only  in  the  air  of  freedom ;  beau- 
ty can  grow  only  under  the  sunlight  of  heaven  ;  truth  can  walk  in 
majesty  and  vigor  only  when  unfettered ;  goodness  can  be  pure 
and  without  hypocrisy  only  amid  the  sanctities  of  trust.  Let  us 
have  the  alimeut  of  thou2;ht ;  but  then  leave  us  to  think. 

Freedom — this  is  the  grand  characteristic  of  University  Educa- 
tion, as  it  is  the  essential  attribute  of  manhood.  Childhood  and 
youth,  of  necessity,  must  be  trained  and  disciplined  under  authority : 
but  when  the  mind  has  come  to  know  itself,  and  has  gained  the  art 
of  study,  then  it  must  lead  on  its  own  development.  The  educational 
System  has  attained  its  most  perfect  organization,  when  the  boundary 
between  the  pre-disciplinary  stage,  and  the  University,  is  most  sharp- 
ly defined ;  and  the  early  and  authoritative  training  is  conducted  in 
primary  reference  to  the  self-training  which  is  to  follow.  Profes- 
sors and  books  aid,  guide,  and  stimulate ;  but  the  scholar  makes 
himself.  He  must  be  self-made  or  he  is  not  made  at  all.  Indeed, 
in  the  pre-disciplinary  stage  there  is  an  incipient  self-making,  for  all 
study  and  learning,  even  the  most  elementary,  imply  a  thoughtful 
self-application  ;  and  every  act  of  thought  is  an  act  of  freedom. — 
But  the  University  ever  holds  this  distinction,  that  here,  the  stu- 
dent has  attained  a  position  from  whence  he  can  estimate  the  ends 
and  aims  of  thought,  and  can  map  out  to  himself  the  fields  of  schol- 
arship. 

In  the  present  state  of  our  institutions,  the  pre-disciplinary  stage, 
and  the  university  stage  run  together,  so  that  the  boundai'ies  over- 
lap each  other  and  confuse  the  lines  of  separation.  We  name  our 
colleges,  universities,  while  our  universities  are  little  more  than 
colleges. 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  clearer  views  on  educational  organi- 
zation are  spreading  over  the  country ;  and  more  positive  efforts  are 
made  towards  the  development  of  universities.  The  State  of  Mich- 
igan has  already  gained  distinction  for  efforts  of  this  kind ;  and 
gives  fair  promise  of  eventually  reaching  the  goal.     She  has  con- 


ceived  the  plan,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  a  university.  Within 
a  short  period  great  advances  have  been  made.  What  is  now  of 
the  greatest  moment  to  us  is  to  avoid  mistakes  which  may  impede 
our  prosperity;  if  not  lead  to  disorganization  and  ruin.  We  must 
endeav^or  to  keep  clearly  before  us  the  great  end,  to  employ  the 
right  means,  and  to  make  every  movement  a  step  in  the  right  direc- 
tion. It  is  disastrous  to  do  only  to  make  it  necessary  to  undo  again. 
It  is  running  too  great  a  hazard  to  venture  upon  doubtful  experi- 
ments. But  this  is  by  no  means  necessary,  for  there  is  no  subject 
whose  principles  are  simpler  or  better  defined,  or  sustained  and 
illustrated  by  more  numerous  facts. 

How  simple  the  idea  of  a  university  !  An  association  of  emi- 
nent scholars  in  every  department  of  human  knowledge  ;  together 
with  books  embodying  the  results  of  human  investigation  and  think- 
ing, and  all  the  means  of  advancing  and  illustrating  knowledge. 

How  simple  the  law  which  is  to  govern  this  association ! — That 
each  member  as  a  thinker,  investigater,  and  teacher  shall  be  a  law 
unto  himself,  in  his  own  department. 

Is  there  any  authority  competent  to  prescribe  to  Bacon,  Leibnitz, 
Kant,  Cousin,  Hamilton,  the  methods  of  philosophical  thinking,  and 
exposition?  To  Gallileo,  Newton,  Herschell,  Struve,  La  Place, 
Arago,  Le  Verrier,  Airy,  how  to  demonstrate  the  mechanism  of  the 
heavens,  and  to  pursue  the  stars  in  their  courses  ?  To  Dalton, 
Davy,  Faraday,  Licbig,  how  to  conduct  the  analyses  of  the  Labora- 
tory, and  to  determine  the  laws  of  chemistry  ?  To  Macauley  and 
Prescott  how  to  write  histories  ?  To  Burke  and  Brougham  how 
to  debate  in  the  English  parliament ;  to  Webster  and  Clay  in  the 
American  Senate?  To  Milton,  Shakespeare,  Goethe,  Schiller  how 
to  write  poems  ?  To  Titian  and  Eaphael  how  to  cover  the  canvass 
with  Divine  Forms  ?  To  Michael  Angelo  how  to  build  St.  Peters  ? 
Nay,  nay,  to  go  to  humbler  things.  Is  not  the  ship  builder  entrusted 
with  the  building  of  the  ship  ;  the  engineer  with  the  construction 
of  the  Rail  Road  ?  Governments  and  corporations  do  not  construct 
public  works  any  more  than  they  make  poems,  paintings  and  stat- 
ues :  They  only  gi-ant  charters,  and  provide  the  means;  and  then 
entrust  them  to  the  men  who  by  capacity,  knowledge,  and  experi- 


8 

cnce  are  qualified  to  do  the  work.     To  have  the   work  well  done, 
the  essential  thing  is  to  find  the  men  qualified  to  do  it. 

The  same  principle  applies  to  universities.  "Every  man  to  hi& 
trade."  Governments  cannot  make  universities  by  enactments  of 
law :  Nor  corporations  by  the  erection  of  edifices :  The  church 
cannot  create  them  under  the  authority  of  heaven  :  The  flattering 
eulogies  of  orators  cannot  adorn  them  with  learning:  Newspapers 
cannot  puff  them  into  being.  Learned  men — scholars — these  are 
the  only  workmen  who  can  build  up  universities.  Provide  charters 
and  endowments — the  necessary  protection  and  capital :  provide 
books  and  apparatus — the  necessary  tools:  Then  seek  out  the 
sufiicient  scholars,  and  leave  them  to  the  work,  as  the  intellectual 
engineers  who  are  alone  competent  to  do  it. 

The  history  of  all  art,  of  all  great  undertakings  proves  that  this  ia 
the  only  way  of  success.  Nay,  it  is  an  exceedingly  plain  thing 
which  every  man  of  common  sense  cannot  fail  to  see.  And  the 
history  of  universities  proves  most  decisively  that  this  is  the  only 
way  by  which  they  have  risen  to  eminence  and  success.  It  may 
be  very  difficult  to  find  men  equal  to  this,  as  it  is  often  difficult  to 
find  men  equal  to  any  great  undertaking.  But  the  princi- 
ple of  success  lies  luminously  before  us.  Says  Sir  "William  Ham- 
ilton— the  very  highest  authority  on  the  subject :  "Universities 
are  establishments  founded  and  privileged  by  the  State  for  public 
purposes :  They  accomplish  these  purposes  through  their  professors ; 
and  the  right  of  choosing  professors  is  a  public  trust  confided  to  an 
individual  or  body  of  men,  solely  to  the  end,  that  the  persons  best 
qualified  for  its  duties,  may  be  most  certainly  procured  for  the 
vacant  chair." 

This  distinguished  philosopher  and  author  has  shown,  in  pursuing 
the  history  of  European  Universities,  how  their  eminence  and  pros- 
perity have  ebbed  and  flowed  just  as  this  principle  of  seeking  the 
ablest  professors  has  been  departed  from  or  adhered  to.  The  in- 
stances of  the  Universities  of  Padua  and  Pisa  show  how  even  secta- 
rian prejudices  yielded  to  the  interests  of  learning.  "From  the 
integrity  of  their  patrons,  and  the  lofty  standard  by  which  they 
judged,  the  call  to  a  Paduan  or  Pisan  chair  was  deemed  the  high- 
est of  all  literary  honors.     The  status  of  Professors   was  in  Italy 


9 

elevated  to  a  dignity,  which  in  other  countriea  it  has  never  reached  ; 
and  not  a  few  of  the  most  illustrious  teachers  in  the  Italian  Semi- 
naries, were  of  the  proudest  nobility  of  the  land.  While  the  Uni- 
versities of  other  countries  had  fallen  from  Christian  and  cosmopo- 
lite, to  sectarian  and  local  schools,  it  is  the  peculiar  glory  of  the 
Italian,  that  under  the  enlightened  liberality  of  their  patrons,  they 
still  continued  to  assert  their  Universality:  creed  and  country  were 
in  them  no  bar  ;  "the  latter  not  even  a  reason  for  preference.  For- 
eigners of  every  nation  are  to  be  found  among  their  professors ;  and 
the  most  learned  man  of  Scotland — Dempster — sought  in  a  Pisan 
chair,  that  theatre  for  his  abilities  which  he  could  not  find  at  home." 
Sir  "William  Hamilton  adduces  Leyden  as  a  marked  illustration 
of  the  results  of  the  principle  which  he  advocates,'  in  his  very  able 
paper  on  "Academical  Patronage  and  Superintendence," — by  which 
he  means  the  appointing  power  of  Universities.  The  passage  is  too 
remarkable  to  be  omitted.  "It  is  mainly  to  John  Van  der  Does, 
Lord  of  Noortwyck,  a  distinguished  soldier  and  statesman,  but  still 
more  celebrated  as  a  universal  scholar  under  the  learned  appellative 
of  Janus  Douza,  that  the  school  of  Leyden  owes,  its  existence  and 
reputation.  As  Grovernor  of  that  city,  he  had  baffled  the  leaguer  of 
Requesens;  and  his  ascendency  which  had  moved  the  citizens  to 
endure  the  horrors  of  a  blockade,  subsequently  influenced  them  to 
prefer,  to  a  remission  of  imposts,  the  boon  of  a  University.  In  the 
constitution  of  the  new  Seminary  it  was  he  who  was  principally 
consulted ;  and  his  comprehensive  erudition  which  earned  for  him 
the  titles  of  the  "Batavian  Varro,"  and  "common  oracle  of  the  Uni- 
versity," but  still  more  his  lofty  views  and  unexclusive  liberality, 
enabled  him  to  discharge,  for  above  thirty  years,  the  function  of 
first  curator  with  unbounded  influence  and  unparalleled  success. — 
Gerard  Van  Hoogeveen,  and  Cornelius  de  Coning,  were  his  merito- 
rious colleagues.  Douza's  principles  were  those  which  ought  to 
regulate  the  practice  of  all  academical  patrons;  and  they  were 
those  of  his  successors.  He  knew,  that  at  the  rate  learning  was 
seen  prized  by  the  State  in  the  academy,  would  it  be  valued  by  the 
nation  at  large.  In  his  eyes  a  University  was  not  a  mere  mouth 
piece  of  necessary  instruction,  but  at  once  a  pattern  of  lofty  erudi- 
tion,  and  a  stimulus  to  its  attainment.     He  knew  that   professors 

2 


10 

wrought  more  even  by  example  and  influence  than  by  teaching; 
that  it  was  theirs  to  pitch  high  or  low  the  standard  of  learning  in 
a  country  ;  and  that  as  it  proved  arduous  or  easy  to  come  up  to- 
them,  they  awoke  either  a  restless  endeavor  after  an  ever  loftier 
attainment,  or  lulled  into  a  self-satisfied  conceit.  And  this  relation 
between  the  professorial  body  and  the  nation,  held  also  between  the 
professors  themselves. 

Imperative  in  all,  it  was  more  particularly  incumbent  on  the  first 
curators  of  a  University,  to  strive  after  the  very  highest  (palifica- 
tions ;  for  it  was  theirs  to  determine  the  character  which  the  school 
should  afterwards  maintain ;  and  theirs  to  give  a  higher  tone  to  the 
policy  of  their  successors.  With  these  views  Douza  proposed  to 
concentrate  in  Ley  den  a  complement  of  professors,  all  illustrious  for 
their  learning ;  and  if  the  most  transcendent  erudition  could  not  be 
procured  for  the  University  with  the  obligation  of  teaching,  that  it 
should  still  be  secured  to  it  without.  For  example,  Lipsius^  ''the 
Prince  of  Latin  literature"  had  retired.  Who  was  to  replace  him  ? 
Joseph  Scaliger,  the  most  learned  man  whom  the  world  has  ever 
seen,  was  then  living  a  dependent,  in  the  family  of  Rochepozay. — 
He,  of  all  men,  was,  if  possible,  to  be  obtained.  The  celebrated 
Baudius,  and  Tuniugius,  professor  of  Civil  Law,  were  commissioned 
to  proceed  as  Envoys  to  France,  vrith  authority  to  tender  the  appoint- 
ment, and  to  acquiesce  in  any  terms  that  the  illustrious  scholar 
might  propose.  Nor  was  this  enough.  Not  only  did  the  curators 
of  the  University  and  the  Municipality  of  Ley  den  write  in  the  most 
flattering  strain  to  the  "Prince  of  the  Literary  Senate,"  urging 
his  acquiescence,  but  also  the  States  of  Holland,  and  Maurice  of 
Orange.  Nay,  the  States  and  Stadtholder  preferred  likewise 
strong  solicitations  to  the  King  of  France  to  employ  his  influence 
in  their  behalf  with  the  ''Phoenix  of  Europe,"  which  the  great 
Henry  cordially  did.  The  negotiations  succeeded.  Leyden  was 
illustrated ;  the  general  standard  of  learned  acquirement,  and  the 
criterion  of  professorial  competency,  were  elevated  to  a  lofty  pitch ; 
erudition  was  honored  above  riches  and  power,  in  the  person  of  her 
favorite  son.  After  the  death  of  Scaliger  his  place  was  to  be  filled 
by  the  only  man  who  may  contest  with  him  the  supremacy  of  learn- 
ing ;  and  Scdmasius,  who  though  a  Protestaat  had  been  invited  to 


11 

Padua,  but  under  the  obligation  of  lecturing,  preferred  the  literary 
leisure  of  Leyden,  with  the  emoluments  and  honors  which  its  cura- 
tors and  magistracy  lavished  on  him : — simply,  that,  as  his  call  de- 

I  clares,  "he  might  improve  by  conversation,  and  stimulate  by  exam- 

i  pie,  the  learned  of  the  place  ;"  or  in  the  word.s  of  his  funeral  orator, 
"ut  nominis  sui  honorem  academia)  huic  impertil-et,  scriptis  eandem 
illustraret,  prreseutia  condecoraret."  And  yet  the  working  pro- 
fessors of  Leyden,  at  that  time,  formed  a  constellation  of  great 
men  which  no  other  University  could  exhibit. 

Such  is  a  sample  of  the  extraordinary  efforts  (for  such  sinecures 
were  out  of  rule)  of  the  first  curators  of  Leyden,  to  raise  their  school 

'  to  undisputed  preeminence,  and  their  country  to  the  most  learned  in 
Europe.  In  this  attempt  they  were  worthily  seconded  by  their 
successors,  and  favored  by  the  rivalry  of  the  patrons  of  the  other 
Universities,  and  Scholar  Ulustres  of  the  United  Provinces.     And 

:  what  was  their  success  ?  In  the  Batavian  Netherlands,  when  Leyden 
was  founded,  erudition  was  at  a  lower  ebb  than  in  most  other  coun- 
tries ;   and  a  generation  had  hardly  passed  away  when  the  Dutch 

I  scholars,  of  every  profession,  were  the  most  numerous  and  learned 
in  the  world.  And  this  not  from  artificial  encouragement  and 
support,  in  superfluous  foundations,  affording  at  once  the  premium 
of  education,  and  the  leisure  for  its  undisturbed  pursuit,  for  of 
these  the  Provinces  had  none ;  not  from  the  high  endowment  of 
academic  chairs,  for  the  moderate  salaries  of  the  professors  were 
returned  (it  was  calculated)  more  than  twelve  times  to  the  commu- 
nity, by  the  resort  of  foreign  students  alone ;  but  simply  through 
the  admirable  organization  of  all  literary  patronage,  by  which 
merit  and  merit  alone,  was  always  sure  of  honor,  and  of  an  honored, 
if  not  lucrative  appointment ;  a  condition  without  which  colleges 
are  nuisances,  and  universities  only  organized  against  their  end. — 
Leyden  has  been  surpassed  by  many  other  Universities,  in  the 
emoluments  and  in  the  number  of  her  chairs,  but  has  been  equalled 
by  none  in  the  average  eminence  of  her  professors.  Of  these,  the 
obscurer  names  would  be  luminaries  in  many  other  schools ;  and  from 
the  circle  of  her  twelve  professors,  and  in  an  existence  of  two  hun- 
dred years,  she  can  select  a  more  numerous  company  of  a  higher 
erudition  than  can  be  found  among  the  publio  teachers  of  any  other 
seminary  in  the  world." 


12 

Such  is  the  language  cf  Sir  Willim  Hamilton — himself  a  prodigy 
of  erudition,  one  of  the  most  eminent  philosophers  and  professors 
of  his  times,  and  the  most  distinguished  writer  on  education  in  the 
English  language.  What  he  has  said  of  Leyden  is  borne  out  by  all 
the  great  Universities  of  the  world.  Their  intellectual  vitality, 
their  power  as  educational  institutions,  their  distinction  and  pros- 
perity, and  the  general  state  of  learning  in  the  countries  to  which 
they  belong  have  always  kept  pace  with  the  ability  and  erudition  of 
the  professorial  corps  they  could  bring  together  and  maintain. 
And  wherever  the  grand  point  of  an  elite  body  of  professors  was 
once  gained,  all  things  else  of  greatest  value  followed  rapidly. 

In  the  year  1810,  when  the  Kingdom  of  Prussia  was  crushed  by 
the  weight  of  the  French  invasion,  the  University  of  Berlin  was 
established  under  the  patronage  of  the  King.  The  philosopher 
Fichte,  was  the  principal  instrument  employed  in  moulding  its 
form,  and  breathing  into  it  1  ife  and  power.  The  great  principle  of 
its  creation  was  that  of  bringing  together  the  most  eminent  men  from 
every  part  of  Germany.  Leibnitz  had  indeed  already  founded  the 
Academy  of  Sciences,  and  Berlin  was  the  home  of  Hximboldt ;  Fichte 
and  the  King  Lad  congenial  coadjutors.  But  who  could  have 
anticipated  that  the  experiment  of  Leyden  was  here  to  be  so  glori- 
ously renewed !  From  the  siege  of  Leyden  arose  a  University  beside 
which  the  old  Universities  of  Spain  became  insignificant :  and  from 
the  French  invasion  arose,  at  Berlin,  a  University  which  in  less  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century  rivalled  the  Sorbonne  and  the  College  of 
France. 

Under  the  great  Napoleon,  the  grandeur  of  the  Institute  sprang 
from  a  similar  cause  with  the  grandeur  of  his  army.  In  the  first 
he  aimed  to  collect  men  of  the  highest  genius  and  learning :  The 
unexampled  tactics,  and  terrible  efficiency  of  the  latter  arose  from 
that  band  of  generals  and  marshals  whom  his  sagacity  detected,  and 
his  example  moulded  and  inspired.  It  was  by  the  men  that  he 
gathered  arou.nd  him  in  war  and  in  science,  that  he  well  nigh  made  , 
France  the  centre  of  empire,  as  he  made  it  the  centre  of  civili- 
zation. 

It  is  a  law  of  God's  universe  that  great  ends  require  great  princi- 
ples and  adequate  means  and  instruments.     History  will  be  searched 


13 

in  vain  for  instances  where  mean  conceptions  and  pretentious  fee- 
bleness have  led  on  revolutions,  advanced  art  and  science,  or  laid 
the  stable  foundations  of  national  greatness.  'A  Brigham  Young 
may  lead  his  hordes  to  Utah ;  but  there  are  no  seeds  of  truth  and 
liberty  such  as  the  Maj^flower  bore  over  the  Atlantic  wave  :  there 
is  no  germ  of  a  future  Washington.  The  Toledo  war  could  give 
us  no  heroes  of  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill.  To  do  manly  things, 
we  must  have  brave  men.  To  do  good  things,  we  must  have  virtue. 
Patriotic  deeds  demand  patriots.  Commercial  prosperity  demands 
both  honesty  and  enterprise.  The  poet  only  can  write  poems. — 
The  artist  only  can  mould  the  forms  of  beauty.  The  hopes  of  our 
country  can  repose  only  in  the  true  statesman.  The  cunning  politi- 
cian is  but  a  stock  jobber.  The  hero  is  our  safety  in  war.  The 
thinker  alone  reveals  principles  of  improvement.  The  educated 
alone  can  lead  on  the  great  cause  of  education.  All  great  and  endu- 
rino-  institutions  must  spring  from  minds  adequate  to  conceive  them, 
from  hands  skillful  and  powerful  to  build  them.  And  if  there  be 
any  institutions  which  might  claim  even  the  aid  of  divinities,  they 
are  those  from  whence  shall  gush  forth,  as  from  the  rock  smitten  by 
the  wand  of  the  prophet,  the  streams  which  are  to  nourish  the 
intelligence  and  invigorate  the  character  of  a  free  and  mighty  people 
like  this,  which  is  swarming  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and 
from  the  "frozen  North,"  to  the  amber  and  flowery  South. 

I  conceive  of  the  University  of  Michigan  as  capable  of  becoming 
one  of  these  great  and  distinguished  institutions ;  a  rock  to  be  smit- 
ten by  the  wand  of  a  prophet  that  the  streams  of  knowledge  may 
gush  forth  for  the  people.  I  see  in  the  plan  originally  adopted  by 
its  founders,  in  its  origin  as  a  gift  from  the  general  government  to 
this  young  and  vigorous  State,  in  its  very  name — the  University 
or  THE  State  of  MIchigan — and  in  its  entire  history,  the  marks  of 
greatness,  of  wide  spread  influence,  of  national  glory.  Let  the  State 
of  Michigan  collect  here,  the  means  of  all  knowledge  and  liberal 
culture :  Let  the  curators  appointed  by  the  people  aim  at^one  thing 
— to  bring  together,  here,  all  the  talent  and  erudition  possible,  in- 
dependently of  political  or  sectarian  considerations,  and  no  doubtful- 
ness can  overhang  the  result.  Where  you  collect  the  treasures 
of  learning  and  learned  men,  you  cannot  fail  of  a  University.     This 


14r 

18  the  way  in  which  Universities  have  always  been  made  :  it  ia  the 
fixed  law  of  their  creation. 

When  I  received  a  call  from  the  late  Board  of  Kegents  to  take 
■charge  of  this  University,  I  felt  as  all  men  in  middle  life  must  feel 
when  called  to  break  up  long  cherished  associations,  to  forsake  the 
home  places  of  childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  to  enter  new  regions 
however  glorious  and  beautiful  they  may  be.  I  had  been  so  long 
accustomed  to  see  the  sun  rise  from  the  Atlantic  wave,  and  "scatter 
the  east  wind  upon  the  earth,"  that  I  recoiled  from  the  thought  of 
watching  him  in  his  noontide  splendor  looking  down  upon  these 
vast  lakes  as  upon  "a  molten  looking  glass,"  or  of  watching  his  set- 
ting over  these  unbroken  prairies  as  if  wearily  travelling  to  find  his 
rest  beyond  the  rocky  mountains ;  and  I  had  been  so  long  accus- 
tomed, on  solstitial  summer  days  like  this,  to  track  the  shadows 
upon  the  hills  and  mountains  which  embosom  the  Hudson,  on  whose 
enchanted  banks  I  breathed  the  air  of  spring  as  my  first  taste  of  life, 
that  it  seemed  to  me  I  should  lose  alike  my  identity  and  all  "local 
habitation"  amid  these  boundless  plains  and  forests,  and  in  this 
mighty  rushing  tide  of  human  life.  Believe  me,  it  was  a  painful 
■decision  for  me  to  make  to  accept  that  call,  although  so  honorable, 
and  implying  so  much  public  trust.  But  I  saw  that  I  was  called 
for  no  ordinary  purpose,  to  enter  upon  no  common  work.  A  young, 
vigorous,  free,  enlightened,  and  magnanimous  people,  had  laid  the 
foundations  of  a  State  University :  they  were  aiming  to  open  for 
themselves  one  of  the  great  fountains  of  civilization,  of  culture,  of 
refinement,  of  true  national  grandeur  and  prosperity  :  while  leveling 
the  forests,  and  turning  up  the  furrows  of  the  virgin  soil  to  the 
sunlight,  they  would  enter  upon  the  race  of  knowledge,  and  beautify 
and  refine  their  new  homes  with  learning  and  the  liberal  arts  ;  they 
would  reduce  the  rude  Pan  to  the  graceful  measures  of  the  beautiful 
Apollo  and  his  "sacred  nine,"  and  cause  the  Huron  to  repeat  the  wiz- 
ard murmurs  of  the  Uissus.  It  was  the  charm  of  this  high  promise  and 
expectation  that  drew  me  here. 

As  a  trust  was  reposed  in  me,  so  I  came  trustfully.  If  I  had 
not  something  to  bring ;  if  I  were  not  capable  of  doing  something, 
why  was  I  called  ?  wherefore  should  I  presume  to  come  ?  No  one 
should  be  called  to  such  a  work  who  has  not  given  pledges  of  com- 
petency :  no  one  should  undertake  it  who  is  entitely  dubious  of 


15 

himself.  I  hold  it  as  a  fixed  principle,  that  a  true  man  must  know 
himself ;  and  that  he  who  undertakes  a  public  trust,  must  have 
principles  settled,  methods  defined,  a  course  of  action  conceived  of, 
and  a  brave  heart  to  govern  a  ready  and  not  unskillful  hand. 

I  am  now  just  closing  the  sixth  year  of  my  presidency.  One 
lustrum  is  past ;  another  is  just  entered  upon.  Let  me  be  judged 
of  by  my  works. 

You  will  all  bear  me  witness  that  I  have  ever  expounded  the 
true  and  established  idea  of  a  University — an  association  of  scholars 
together  with  books  and  all  other  means  of  knowledge. 

The  late  Board  of  Regents  have  themselves  testified  that  we 
attained  to  harmony  in  our  views  and  cordially  co-operated  in  our 
endeavors  to  build  up  this  University. 

In  the  appointment  of  professors,  we  aimed  to  be  governed  by  the 
principle  illustrated  in  the  history  of  all  great  and  prosperous 
Universities  :  we  sought  for  the  most  competent  men.  The  advance- 
ment and  prosperity  of  this  institution  has  added  another  illustra- 
tion of  the  soundness  of  the  principle. 

What  was  inaugurated  by  former  Boards  of  Curators  will,  I 
doubt  not,  be  followed  up  by  the  enlightened  gentlemen  who  compose 
the  present  Board.  Indeed,  as  the  President  of  the  Board  of 
Regents,  I  feel,  that  I  am  not  the  less  speaking  their  sentiments 
than  my  own.  The  magnitude  of  the  work  committed  to  us  cannot 
well  be  exaggerated.  Why  cannot  we  accomplish  in  this  great 
North-west,  with  such  abundant  sources  of  Public  Wealth  and  in 
a  state  of  profound  peace,  what  Douza  and  his  colleagues  accom- 
plished for  Leyden  in  the  midst  of  the  exhaustion  and  horrors  of 
war  ?  What  Frederick  William  and  Fichte  accomplished  for 
Prussia  when  their  country  was  trodden  down  by  the  armed  heel  of 
the  invader  ?  0  !  it  is  not  possible  for  us  to  calculate  how  beauti- 
ful and  rapid  may  be  the  the  developments  of  a  wise,  adequate  and 
united  action  !  Nor  can  we  penetrate  that  future  of  glory  which,  by 
a  law  of  heaven,  shall  be  unfolded  from  the  institutions  which  we 
plant  to-day — the  harvests  that  will  be  reaped  by  the  coming  gen- 
erations from  the  seeds  which  earnest  and  holy  hands  are  now  sow- 
ing in  the  soil  of  freedom. 

Believe  me,  that  the  eyes  of  the  nation  are  upon  us — nay,  the 


16 

eyes  of  the  friends  of  learning  and  education,  in  other  nations. — 
This  young  University  is  a  son  of  the  morning — the  light  bearer  of 
the  great  Sun  of  Knowledge  which  is  rising  upon  the  Empire  of 
the  West. 

When  I  was  last  in  Paris  that  distinguished  philosopher,  and 
friend,  and  promoter  of  education,  Victor  Cousin,  after  enquiring 
respecting  our  State  and  the  condition  and  promise  of  our  Univer- 
sity, turned  to  Professor  Ampere  and  remarked  with  an  emphatic 
tone,  and  beaming  eye,  "It  is  a  great  destiny  to  plant  philosophy 
in  that  vast  region  of  the  West !"  It  is  a  great  destiny.  The 
men  who  engage  wisely  and  faithfully  in  building  up  this  Univer- 
sity will  have  their  names  written  in  a  proud  and  imperishable 
history. 

I  have  alluded  to  mistakes  to  be  avoided  that  our  work  may 
not  be  marred  or  impeded. 

We  have  avoided  one  grand  and  fatal  mistake,  in  not  misconceiv- 
ing the  true  character  of  a  University,  and  the  means  by  which 
alone  its  development  is  possible.^ 

There  are  three  others  to  which  in  all  honesty,  fidelity  and  plain- 
ness, I  would  now  call  your  attention.  These' three  mistakes  would 
be  the  introduction  of  political  partizanship  and  aims,  local  jeal- 
ousies and  competitions,  and  sectarian  prejudices  and  demands  into 
the  management  of  the  Uni\'ersity. 

I  would  here  remark  at  the  outset,  that  I  am  not  aware  of  a 
single  fact  in  the  past  management  of  the  University  which  indi- 
cates any  influence  from  these  sources  in  the  Board  of  Regents. 
However  these  gentlemen  have  been  elected,  by  whatever  political 
party,  from  whatever  part  of  the  State,  out  of  the  bosom  of  whatever 
religious  denomination,  they  have  always  seemed  to  me,  to  forget 
political,  local,  and  religious  connections  in  this  common  State  inter- 
est, and  to  look  steadily  at  the  responsibilities  of  the  great  trust 
reposed  in  them,  by  a  people  alike  interested  in  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion. 

There  is  certainly  no  more  honorable  office  in  the  gift  of  the  peo- 
ple, or  one  more  grateful  to  a  noble  and  proper  ambition. 

These  influences  perhaps,  are  more  liable  to  exist  in  the  body  of 
the  people  than  elsewhere,  and  to  produce  their  effect  by  an  out- 


17 

feide  pressure,  I  vrould  remark,  too,  that  in  speaking  of  them  I  have 
reference  to  what  may  occur,  rather  than  to  anything  which  hai 
already  occurred.  I  would  speak  in  a  strain  of  premonition  as  to 
the  future,  rather  than  in  a  strain  of  rebuke  as  to  the  past. 

The  University,  as  strictly  as  the  common  schools,  belongs  to  th« 
entire  people. 

Politics  can  never  be  admitted  to  influence  its  appointments 
and  measures,  for  two  plain  reasons.  First,  in  its  nature  it  haa 
nothing  to  do  with  politics.  It  is  an  institution  constituted  not  for 
political  movements,  but  for  the  advancement  of  science  and  litera- 
ture ;  and  for  the  education  of  youth  in  science  and  literature,  and 
not  in  the  doctrines  and  arts  of  political  parties.  To  divert  it  from 
the  one  object  to  the  other  would  be  to  destroy  it. 

Secondly,  it  being  essential  to  its  success  to  procure  the  most 
able  professors,  no  respect  can  be  had  to  political  sympathies,  but 
purely  to  scientific  and  literary  qualifications.  To  make  appoint- 
ments on  any  other  principles,  would  be  to  destroy  the  standard  of 
scholarship,  to  change  it  from  a  literary  to  a  political  institution,  to 
introduce  conflict  and  confusion,  and  to  explode  it  as  an  ill-begotten 
experiment. 

The  tendency  of  local  jealousies  is  either  to  destroy  a  com- 
mon and  hearty  interest  in  its  welfare,  to  prevent  a  common  union 
in  promoting  its  interest,  and  to  narrow  it  from  a  State  to  a  sec- 
tional institution,  or  to  institute  measures  for  dividing  and  distrib- 
uting its  departments  and  resources. 

The  first  evil  is  that  of  reducing  it  from  greatness  to  insignificance 
by  shutting  it  up  within  narrow  bounds.  The  second  evil  is  the 
destruction  of  a  force,  by  dispersion,  which  can  exist  only  by  concen- 
tration. Waters  collected  in  one  deep  channel  may  turn  a  thousand 
mills,  which  if  divided  in  a  thousand  channels  may  be  insufficient 
to  turn  one. 

The  very  idea  of  a  University  is  that  of  concentrating  books  and 
apparatus,  and  learned  men  in  one  place.  All  branches  of  human 
learning  are  cognate,  and  require  for  their  successful  prosecu- 
tion, cordial  co-operation  and  mutual  support.  Nay,  they  are  logic- 
ally interdependent,  so  that  to  separate  them  would  be  to  render  their 
development  impossible.  The  relations  existing  between  the 
branches  of  knowledge  symbolize  the  relations  of  the  professors  and 

3 


18 

studeuts  in  tbeae  branches.  Together  they  form  a  learned  society, 
the  members  of  which  operate  upon  each  other  by  the  communica- 
tion of  ideas  in  daily  converse,  by  the  force  of  example,  and  by  the 
excitement  of  noble  and  generous  competition.  We  have  seen  how 
highly  the  University  of  Leyden  rated  the  effects  of  this  association 
in  the  efforts  which  they  made  to  secure  merely  the  residence  of 
Joseph  Scaliger,  and  after  him,  of  Salmasius,  at  Leyden,  that  both 
professors  and  students  might  be  guided  and  stimulated  by  their 
conversation  and  example.  No  one  can  visit  Berlin,  in  our  day^ 
without  perceiving  that  a  certain  grace,  dignity  and  inspiring 
influence  exist  there  from  the  presence  of  the  illustrious  Humboldt 
—the  unrivalled  model  of  a  scientific  man.  Merely  to  see  him, 
quickens  one's  intellectual  nature ;  and  only  a  brief  conversation 
with  him  leaves  an  ennobling  impression  never  to  be  forgotten. 

I  do  not  wish  to  speak  with  severity  of  those  who  may  differ  frora^ 
me  in  opinion;  nor  does  it  become  me  to  impugn  any  man's  motives. 
But  I  certainly  have  a  right  to  state  what  I  believe  to  be  an  in- 
disputable fact,  that  no  true  University  has  ever  yet  been  estab- 
lished by  a  distribution  of  its  parts  in  different  localities ;  and  that 
none  of  those  great  men  who  have  hitherto  created  these  institutions, 
and  whom  the  world  accounts  an  unquestionable  authority  on  this 
subject,  have  ever  attempted  it. 

If  you  remove  one  department  from  the  common  locality,  you 
admit  the  right  and  possibility  of  removing  other  departments.  If 
you  find  reasons  for  removing  the  Medical  Department  to  Detroit, 
you  may  find  reasons  for  establishing  the  Law  Department  at  Lan- 
sing. The  Upper  Peninsula,  from  its  abundant  mineral  resources, 
and  its  geological  indications,  may  claim  to  be  the  proper  seat  of 
the  Department  of  Greology  and  Mineralogy  :  The  vast  northern 
forests  of  the  lower  Peninsula  would  offer  great  facilities  for  Botany 
and  Zoology  :  The  island  of  Mackinaw  might  be  deemed  a  beau- 
tiful location  for  the  Observatory :  The  professor  of  Greek  might 
be  tempted  by  the  Arcadian  beauty  of  the  banks  of  the  St.  Joseph, 
at  Niles :  The  professor  of  Latin  might  find  something  to  remind 
him  of  the  Roman  energy  in  the  enterprising  character  of  Grand 
Rapids  :  The  professor  of  History  might  be  charmed  to  Monroe  by 
the  historical  associations  which  cluster  on  the  banks  of  the  Raisin  : 
The   professor  of  Matlicraatics  micht   find  attractions  in   his  old 


19 

associations amonw  the  lakes  of  Pontiac  :  The  rural  shades  of  Pinck- 
ney  have  not  lost  their  hold  upon  the  imagination  of  the  professor 
of  Modern  Language?  :     Grand  Haven  might  claim  the  professor 
of  Chemistry  :     The   sylvan  beauty  of  Kalamazoo  might  seem  fit 
haunts  for  Belles  Lettres  and  the  fine  arts :  and  Physics  and  Civil 
Engineering  might  be  divided  between  the  thriving  towns  of  Mar- 
shall and  Jackson.     An  equitable  division  of  books  and  apparatus 
might  also  be  made.     Then  the  President  in  solitary  dignity  might 
extend  his  gardens  into  the  College   Campus  without  rebuke  ;  and 
unmolested  lead  about  his   class  in  philosophy,  and   rival  the  great 
Stagyrite  in  practical  peripateticism.     Ptoom  too,  he  would  have  in 
abundance,  for   the  accommodation  of  the  professors  in  their  occa- 
sional visits,   and  for   the   learned  men  of  other  countries,   who, 
attracted  by  our  fame,  should  come  to  search  out  the  University  of 
Michigan.     Some  of  us,  however,   notwithstanding   the  brilliancy 
and  charms  of  these  novel  experiments,  may  deem  it  less  hazardous 
to  listen  to  the  teachings  of  experience,  and  to  yield  to  the  authority 
of  well  established  precedents.     Much  has  already  been  done  by 
adhering  to  the  principle  of  concentration.     We  see  much   more 
that  can  be  undertaken,  on  this  principle,  with  the  surest  prospects 
of  success.     The  University  in  its  present  location  has  been  found 
quite  accessible  to  the  youth  both  of  our  State  and  of  other  States. 
Local  jealousies,   if  they  have  existed, 'must  soon  subside  before  a 
generous  common  sense.     Every  part   of  Michigan  will  recognise 
the  University  as  its  own  ;  and  even  Ann  Arbor  itself  as  the  seat  of 
this  common  possession,  will  come  to  be  regarded  as  in  some  sort 
belonging  to  the  people  of  the  State.     Least  of  all  do  I  apprehend 
that  Detroit  will  be  ambitious   of  taking  possession  of  one  of  the 
Departments   of  the  University,   when  I   behold  on  yonder  hill  a 
work  of  her   own  liberality  consigned  to  this  locality.     She  has 
enriched  and  adorned  the  University  with  an  Observatory  ;  she  has 
given  it  her  name ;  but  she  has  not  lopped  it  from  the  parent  stem. 
And  her  iutelliaient   citizens  have  doubtless   well  considered  that 
although  a  Medical  College  might  be  planted  there,  as  such  Colleges 
Lave  been  planted  in  other  cities,  yet  the  mere  name  of  the  Univer- 
sity could  give  it  no  real  elevation  above  others  of  the  same   class, 
while  cut  ofi"  from  a  vital  connection  with  it ;  and  while  removed 
from  that   circle  of  learned  association  which   alone  supplies  to  «■ 


20 

University  school,  in  any  of  the  profeesions,  a  real  distinction  and  a 
higher  character  in  comparison  with  those  isolated  schools  which 
are  merely  private  establishments.  Foregoing  then  all  doubtful  and 
impracticable  questions,  let  us  consider  the  location  of  the  Univer- 
sity as  a  point  determined,  and,  with  a  hearty  union,  bend  our 
efforts  to  perfect  all  its  departments,  by  enlarging  the  means  of  in- 
struction, by  introducing  higher  standards  of  scholarship,  and  by 
increasing  fidelity  and  devotion  to  the  noble  work  we  have  under- 
taken. In  the  fable  of  the  bundle  of  twigs  we  are  taught  how  each 
twig  taken  separately  may  be  broken  by  an  infant's  hand  ;  while  all 
bound  firmly  together  may  bid  defiance  to  a  giant's  strength. 

The  third  evil  to  be  avoided  is  sectarian  prejudices  and  demands 
in  the  management  of  the  University. 

In  an  institution  professedly  belonging  to  a  particular  religious 
denomination,  or  belonging  to  the  State  where  a  State  religion  exists, 
a  Theological  Faculty  can  be  established  as  freely  as  any  other. — 
Here  of  course  the  authorised  tenets  will  be  taught.  But  it  would 
be  a  great  and  manifest  mistake,  even  in  such  an  institution,  to 
introduce  religious  any  more  than  political  tests  in  the  appointment 
of  professors.  Professors  in  every  department  should  be  men  of  pure 
and  honorable  characters.  This  is  essential  indeed,  no  less,  in  po- 
litical appointments,  or  in  men  entrusted  with  commercial  responsi- 
bilities. But  beyond  this,  in  the  appointment  of  professors,  refer- 
ence should  be  had  only  to  scientific  and  literary  qualifications,  and 
aptitude  to  teach.  It  is  indispensable  to  a  teacher  in  any  branch  of 
science  or  literature,  that  he  should  be  master  of  the  branch  which 
he  professes  to  teach.  However  amiable  his  character,  however 
pure  his  religious  or  political  creed  according  to  the  judgement  of 
any  sect  or  party,  if  he  have  not  the  requisite  literary  or  scientific 
qualifications,  he  is  of  no  account.  It  is  on  this  common  sense  prin- 
ciple that  we  select  a  physician,  a  lawyer,  a  mechanic,  a  laborer 
of  any  description ;  and  it  would  be  the  height  of  infatuation  to 
reject  it  in  the  appointment  of  professors.  Nor,  would  the  insti- 
tution in  question  avoid  the  error  by  adopting  the  principle  of  select- 
ing the  best  man  of  one's  own  sect  or  party ;  for  it  might  often 
happen  that  the  best  man  of  the  sect  or  party  would  not  be  the  best 
man  for  the  vacant  chair;  and  some  man  of  extraordinary  ability, 
and  whose  accession  would  bring  incalculable  strength  and  reputa- 


21 

tion  to  the  institution  would  be  set  aside.  There  is  no  safe  princi- 
ple but  that  of  looking  directly  at  the  qualifications  of  the  individ- 
ual, relatively  to  the  chair  to  be  filled. 

Hence  the  most  eminent  Universities  have  ever  been  governed 
by  this  principle  :  and  it  would  be  easy  to  show  from  the  history  of 
Universities,  that  wherever  the  opposite  principle  has  been  adopted, 
it  has  brought  barrenness   and   mediocrity   into    the  professorial 

corps. 

We  have  seen  that  even  Roman  Catholic  institutions  have  adopted 
this  wise  principle,  and  like  the  Universities  of  Padua  and  Pisa, 
above  referred  to,  have  by  it,  rendered  themselves  illustrious. 

In  institutions  of  our  own  country  belonging  to  particular  sects, 
their  usefulness  and  prosperity  have  been  in  proportion  to  their  lib- 
erality. Take  Yale  College  as  an  example — an  institution,  with 
the  exception  of  Harvard,  more  fully  developed  than  any  institu- 
tion in  our  country.  Yale  College  belongs  to  the  Cougregation- 
alists  ;  it  has  a  Theological  Faculty,  and  a  chaplain  and  preacher 
of  its  own  order ;  and  yet  there  is  no  sectarian  exclusiveness  in  the 
appointment  of  professors  in  departments  outside  of  the  theological, 
and  no  sectarian  pressure  in  its  interior  discipline  and  management. 
It  cannot  be  said  of  Yale  that  it  has  been  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  congiegationalism,  or  that  it  has  tended  to  extend  Congregation- 
alism. The  country  does  not  think  of  it  as  a  sectarian  institution. 
It  attracts  attention  and  is  valued  generally  for  its  educational  ben- 
efits. Let  it  but  change  its  policy  and  become  intensely  sectarian, 
and  its  glory  would  depart.  Now  it  is  resorted  to  by  youth  of  all 
denominations,  from  all  political  parties,,  and  from  every  section  of 
the  country.  North  and  South,  East  and  West ;  and  it  presents  the 
largest  number  of  students  of  any  college  or  University  of  the  United 
States.  Indeed  Yale  College  derives  no  benefit  from  being  attached 
to  a  particular  sect,  save  the  privilege  of  establishing  a  Theological 
Faculty. 

Every  sect  has  the  right  of  establishing  its  own  institutions :  but 
no  such  institution  can  arise  to  eminence,  or  gain  large  success,  by 
making  the  promotion  of  sectarian  interests  its  great  aim.  Let 
any  one  carefully  examine  the  institutions  of  our  country,  and  he 
will  find  the  above  assertion  fully  sustained.  Hence  we  find  the 
sectarian  institutions,  so  called,  tending  more  and  more  to  a  liberal 


22 

policy.  The  genius  of  our  country  demands,  that  if  sectarian  in 
name,  they  should  not  be  so  in  their  educational  organization  and 
procedures. 

One  is  led  by  the  consideration  of  these  facts  to  enquire  why 
sectarian  colleges  or  universities  exist,  at  all,  where  no  Theological 
Faculty  is  established  ?     Their  origin  is  very  easily  accounted  for. 

In  England  the  Universities  proper  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  fell 
into  disuse;  and  the  Colleges,  which  were  private  and  special  endow- 
ments, originally  designed  to  furnish  board  and  lodging  to  Theolog- 
ical students,  and  eventually  came  to  have  teachers  attached  to 
them,  supplanted  the  former  as  educational  institutions.  Thus 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  merged  into  collections  of  Colleges  under 
ecclesiastical  control. 

It  was  natural  therefore,  that  when  a  University  was  established 
at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  it  should  begin  with  a  college  after 
the  English  form.  This  precedent  was  followed  as  other  similar 
institutions  came  into  being.  Besides,  all  education  in  our  country 
began  under  the  patronage  of  religious  sects,  or  of  individuals  be- 
longing to  these  sects.  Men  who  emigrated  to  this  country  from 
religious  principles,  naturally  connected  all  their  institutions 
both  educational  and  political,  with  their  peculiar  church  organi- 
sation. 

But  it  did  not  follow,  because,  this  connection  was  originally 
demanded,  or  could  not  be  avoided,  on  account  of  the  peculiar  exi- 
gencies of  the  times,  that  it  was  to  continue  when  these  exigencies 
had  passed  away.  Hence,  in  time,  the  Church  and  State  came  to 
he  separated ;  and  education  in  the  common  schools,  at  least,  came 
to  be  separated  from  the  Church  also.  This  movement  has  pro- 
ceeded farther  and  farther;  and  we  now  have  not  only  common 
schools,  but  also  High  Schools  and  Academies,  Normal  Schools,  and 
iCTen  many  Colleges  and  Universities,  removed  from  particular  eccle- 
siastical connections. 

Indeed,  it  is  hard  to  perceive  any  necessity  for  such  a  connection 
in  any  instance,  save  where  a  sect  desires  to  create  a  Theological  Fac- 
ulty. If  it  be  said  that  Colleges  and  Universities  require  to  be 
under  religious  control,  and  this  can  be  best  secured  by  a  particular 
jdenominational  connection,  the  argument  proves  too  much.  For 
•trhy  is  not  the  same  demanded  for  Common  Schools,  Union  Schoolfii, 


r>' 


3 

High  Schoola,  Academies,  Normal  Schools,  and  the  various  private 
institutions?  Nay,  the  lower  schools,  and  especially  the  common 
schools,  would  seem  to  demand  the  very  highest  conditions  for  reli- 
gious influence,  since  in  tJiese^  pupils  are  received  at  the  most 
impressible  period  of  human  life,  and  when  the  strongest  bent  is  given 
to  character  and  habits.  It  is  on  this  very  ground  that  the  Roman 
Catholics  have  claimed  the  control  of  the  apportionment  of  school 
money  falling  to  their  children.  They  say,  we  deem  it  essential  io 
educate  our  children  under  those  religious  influences  which  our 
consciences  approve  of.  Now,  are  we  consistent,  if  we  deny 
the  necessity  of  denominational  control  in  our  common  schools,  and 
indeed  in  many  other  schools  below  the  College  and  the  University^ 
but  the  moment  we  reach  this  highest  grade  of  education,  claim  it 
as  essential? 

If  the  State  is  competent  to  establish,  and  to  provide  for  the 
management  of  Common,  Union  and  Normal  Schools  without  denom- 
inational interference,  why  is  it  not  competent  to  do  the  same  with 
respect-to  Colleges  and  Universities  ?  And  if  the  religious  interests 
of  the  former  can  be  secured  under  State  organization,  why  not  of 
the  latter  ? 

Besides,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  we  cannot  perceive  what  peculiar 
religious  discipline  is  exercised  in  denominational  institutions 
which  does  not  exist  elsewhere,  unless  these  institutions  should  take 
rigid  measures  for  the  inculcation  of  their  peculiar  tenets.  In  this 
case  their  pupils  could  be  derived  only  from  their  own  communions, 
and  they  would  become  exceedingly  limited  in  their  sphere  of  opera- 
tion. This,  we  know,  they  do  not  generally  attempt,  but  aiming 
to  afi"ord  education  in  science  and  literature,  leave  the  conscience 
unfettered,  and  establish  only  a  moral  and  religious  discipline  which 
shall  commend  itself  to  the  community  generally  without  dis- 
tinction of  sect.  And  this  is  the  very  discipline  which  is  introduced 
into  State  institutions,  and  into  institutions  generally  which  are  not 
denominational. 

We  come  now  to  consider  the  University  of  Michigan  under  its 
moral  and  religious  aspects. 

First,  as  to  the  appointment  of  professors. 

If  the  principle  we  have  above  laid  down,  that  the  appointment 
of  professors  to  chairs  of  literature  and  science,  to  all  chairs,   at 


2-t 

least,  outside  of  the  Theological,  is  to  be  made  independently  alike 
of  political  and  religious  tests,  and  solely  in  reference  to  literary  and 
Bcientific  qualifications,  and  aptitude  to  teach,  and  that  too  in 
institutions  professedly  attached  to  particular  religious  denomina- 
tions ;  and  if  the  example  not  only  of  Protestant  Leyden,  but  also 
of  Roman  Catholic  Padua  and  Pisa  is  worthy  of  all  commendation, 
and  its  wisdom  attested  by  its  brilliant  success ;  then,  when  we  come 
to  the  "University  of  Michigan,"  established  as  a  State  institution 
on  a  fund  provided  by  the  General  Government  for  no  other  purpose 
than  that  of  promoting  science  and  literature,  and  advancing  educa- 
tion, and  whose  great  object  is  declared  to  be,  in  the  first  ordinance 
of  the  State  passed  in  reference  to  it,  and  approved  March  18,  1837, 
"to  provide  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  with  the  means  of  acquir- 
ing a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  various  branches  of  literature, 
science,  and  the  arts;"  then,  I  say,  when  we  come  to  this  institu- 
tion, the  principle  of  regulating  appointments  by  qualifications,  alone, 
cannot  fail  us.  Here,  if  any  where,  political  and  religious  tests 
must  be  utterly  abolished,  nor  even  a  shadow  of  them  appear. 

All  sects  and  parties,  every  individual  in  the  State  would  proba- 
bly agree  to  this  general  statement.  But  a  plan  has  somehow 
sprung  up,  and  in  one  or  two  instances  been  acted  upon,  which,  on 
the  one  hand,  by  proclaiming  the  equal  rights  of  all  religious  denom- 
inations in  University  appointments  seems  to  avoid  exclusiveness ; 
while  on  the  other  hand,  in  the  very  attempt  to  adjust  these  rights, 
it  involves  us  in  all  the  evils  of  denominational  tests.  For,  on  this 
plan,  wherever  a  chair  is  to  be  filled,  instead  of  confining  ourselves 
to  the  considerations  of  the  literary  and  scientific  qualifications  of 
the  candidates,  and  their  aptitude  to  teach,  we  must  raise  two  addi- 
tional enquiries;  first,  to  which  of  the  denominations  does  the 
appointment  about  to  be  made,  of  right  belong?  and  secondly, 
which  of  the  candidates  possesses  the  requisite  denominational  quali- 
fications ?  Now,  it  is  plain,  that  in  both  these  questions,  we  depart 
from  the  true  principle  before  vindicated ;  and  that  were  this  plan 
once  adopted,  every  appointment  afterwards  made  to  the  University 
would  be  governed  by  some  denominational  test.  But  this  would 
not  be  the  only  evil  we  should  have  to  encounter.  There  would  be 
the  evil  of  denominational  jealousy  and  competition.  How  would 
it  be  possible  to  adjust  these  denominational  rights  ?    Which  denom- 


25 

iuutiou  tjiiall  have  the  largest  number  of  professors  V  fejhall  it  be 
determiued  by  the  numbers,  the  wealth,  the  political  influence,  or 
the  educated  intelligence  of  the  Beet?  Or,  shall  the  same  number 
bo  distributed  alike  to  all  the  sects  ?  But  some  professorships  may 
be  regarded  as  more  influential  than  others;  and  the  full  professor- 
ship would  generally  be  regarded  as  taking  precedence  of  the  assist- 
ant. Then  how  many  assistant  professorships  shall  be  considered 
C(|uivalent  to  one  full  professorship  V  Shall  it  be  two  or  one  and 
a  half?  How  shall  we  determine  the  relative  importance  of  the 
full  professorships  ?  Which  sect  shall  have  the  right  to  nominate 
the  President?  Or  shall  it  be  given  to  all  in  rotation  ?  And  shall 
he  bo  elected  for  a  limited  term  of  years  ?  Then  again,  it  must  be 
determined  how  far  the  power  of  the  sects  shall  extend :  Shall  they 
have  the  power  to  make  all  nominations;  or  shall  the  Regents  be 
re(pired  to  elect  the  proper  number  from  each  sect  ?  Or  will 
each  sect  be  satisfied  with  one  representative,  and  leave  the  Regents 
to  elect  the  remainder  according  to  their  pleasure  ?  Or  suppose 
the  rights  of  some  sects  have  hitherto  been  neglected,  as  for  example, 
the  Roman  Catholics,  who  have  not  at  present  a  single  professor  in 
the  University — indeed  the  same  is  true  with  respect  to  the  Dutch 
Reformed,  the  Unitarian,  Univcrsalist,  and  it  may  be  other  denomi- 
nations— and  that  one  or  all  of  these  should  come  forward  and  claim 
their  rights  when  the  chairs  are  all  filled ;  would  this  difficulty  be 
removed  by  creating  new  chairs,  or  by  vacating  some  of  the  chairs 
already  filled  in  order  to  make  way  for  what  may  be  demanded  as 
an  equitable  adjustment  ? 

When  once  we  admit  the  principle  of  denominational  represen- 
tation, we  can  exclude  no  denomination.  When  once  we  allow 
denominational  interference,  every  denomination  has  an  equal  right 
to  interfere.  We  must  hear  all :  we  must  attend  to  all :  and  we 
must  enter  upon  the  impracticable  task  of  satisfying  all.  And  then 
this  impracticable  and  unproductive  work  of  endeavoring  to  har- 
monize the  conflicting  claims  of  numerous  sects,  ever  prone  to  be- 
come more  and  more  inflamed  by  competition,  and  rendered  more 
and  more  unreasonable,  will  absorb  the  attention  and  labors  of  the 
Regents,  instead  of  the  practicable,  legitimate,  and  noble  work  of 
cccuriug  for  the  University  eminent  professors,  and  providing  them 

4 


36 

with  the  means  of  fulfilling  their  functions,  and  carrying  oufc  the 
ends  of  public  instruction. 

And  when  these  representatives  of  the  different  Beets  are  intro- 
duced into  the  University,  acknowledged  and  known  in  this  capa- 
city, then  the  question  arises,  how  they  are  to  act  out  this  represen- 
tative capacity,  and  to  maintain  the  interests  of  the  bodies  which 
they  represent  ?  Shall  they  all  remit  the  peculiarities  of  their 
respective  sects,  and  endeavor  to  stand  upon  certain  principles  in 
which  they  all  agree  ?  Then  there  will,  in  reality,  be  no  represen- 
tation of  sects,  and  the  ends  of  the  whole  arrangement  become  null 
and  void.  Shall  each  one  assert  his  sectarian  peculiarities  ?  Then 
will  the  University  be  split  into  conflicting  parties,  and  the  profes- 
sors be  found  heading  their  respective  clans,  and  instead  of  an  in- 
stitution "providing  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  with  the  means  of 
acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  various  branches  of  literature, 
science,  and  the  arts,"  we  shall  have  a  grand  gymnasium  where 
Catholics  and  Protestants,  the  orthodox  and  the  heterodox,  engaged 
in  endless  logomachies  shall  renew  Milton's  chaos — 

"  A  unirersal  hubbub  wild 
Of  stunning  sounds  and  voices  all  confused." 

Better,  far  better,  than  to  run  the  hazard  of  such  confusion  and 
ruin,  would  it  be  to  consign  the  University  to  any  one  denomination, 
Catholic,  or  Protestant,  animated  by  the  noble  spirit  of  Padua,  Pisa, 
or  Leyden.  One  alone  possessing  it,  might  be  generous  and  enlighten- 
ed ;  a  number  attempting  to  share  its  functions,  and  divide  its  spoils, 
would  only  rend  it  in  pieces.  But  egregiously  do  those  mistake  the 
character  and  ends  of  this  institution  who  imagine  that,  because,  it 
belongs  to  no  sect  or  party  in  particular,  it  therefore  belongs 
to  all  sects  and  parties  conjointly,  and  of  equal  right.  It  not  only 
does  not  belong  to  any  sect  or  party  in  particular  ;  it  belongs  to  no 
sect  or  party  at  all.  It  belongs  to  the  people  of  this  State  simply  as 
the  people  of  the  State.  The  deed  of  trust  by  which  it  was  founded, 
the  ordinance  by  which  its  objects  are  defined,  makes  no  allusion  to 
Catholic  or  Protestant,  to  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Episcopalian, 
Baptist,  Congregationalist,  Unitarian,  Uuiversalist,  or  any  other 
religious  denomination.  It  speaks  not  of  political  pai-ties ;  it  refers 
to  no  particular  localities  :  It  speaks  only  of  the  State  of  Michi- 
gan, or  of  the  people  of  th<j  State.     It  is  a  purely  literary  and  scien- 


87 

tifio  institution ;  it  is  in  no  ponsc  coclcsiastical.  It  is  designed  for 
a  eimplo  purpose — advancing  knowledge  and  promoting  education. 
Occupying  a  higher  grade,  it  is  as  purely  a  popular  and  educational 
institution  as  the  common  school  itself.  It  is  as  absurd  to  speak  of 
the  University  as  belonging  to  religious  sects  conjointly,  as  it  would 
be  to  speak  of  the  asylum,  the  State  prison,  the  Legislature,  or  any 
public  body,  institution,  or  works,  as  thus  belonging.  The  State  is 
not  composed  of  religious  sects,  but  of  the  people.  And  the  institu- 
tions of  the  State  do  not  belong  to  the  sects  into  which  the  people 
may  chance  to  be  divided  by  their  religious  opinions  and  practices  ; 
but  to  the  people  considered  as  the  body  politic,  irrespective  of  all 
Buch  divisions. 

The  people  of  the  State,  and  not  the  religious  sects,  elect,  by 
districts,  ten  Judges  and  ten  Regents,  who  are  responsible  to  their 
constituents,  the  people  of  the  State,  and  not  to  the  religious  sects. 
As  well  may  the  religious  sects  prescribe  to  the  one  as  to  the  other. 
The  duties  of  these  Judges  and  Regents  arc  fixed,  not  by  the  reli- 
gious sects,  but  by  the  constitution,  and  organic  laws  enacted 
under  it. 

Both  Judges  and  Regents  fulfill  their  duty  when  they  faithfully 
obey  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  State  and  their  manifest  intent. 
No  religious  body  or  ecclesiastical  organization — no  association 
whatever,  whether  political,  religious  or  benevolent,  has  a  right 
to  prescribe  to  Judges  or  Regents,  to  interfere  with  their  functions 
or  to  call  them  to  account.  They  stand  before  the  people  as  simply 
the  body  politic. 

The  Regents,  as  ordered  l>y  the  constitution  and  organic  law, 
appoint  the  President  and  Professors  of  the  University,  manage  its 
funds  and  direct  its  affairs  generally.  They  arc  the  proper,  and 
legal,  and  only  curators.  All  their  doings,  and  the  doings  of  the 
President  and  Professors  under  them,  including' the  receipts  and 
expenditures  of  all  monies,  are,  according  to  law,  fully  embodied  in  a 
report  to  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  who  prints  the 
same,  lays  it  before  the  legislature,  and  sends  it  abroad  among  the 
people.  In  addition  to  this  a  Board  of  Visitors  is  appointed  by 
the  Superintendent,  who  have  full  power  and  opportunity  to  exam- 
ine into  the  condition  of  the  University,  and  who  make  n  report  of 
the  same.     In  these   ways  the  people  arc  made  fully  accjuaintcd 


28 

with  tlie  affairs  of  the  University,  annually,  hy  its  responsible  and 
known  guardians)  and  visitors. 

The  President  and  Professors  aro  entrusted  with  the  infitruction  and 
discipline  of  the  Institution  according  to  a  system  of  by-laws  on- 
acted  by  the  Regents.  They  fulfill  their  duties  when  they  faith- 
fully obey  and  administer  these  laws.  They  are  directly  accounta- 
ble only  to  the  Regents,  and  through  them  to  the  people  of  the 
State. 

No  political  association,  no  ecclesiastical  body,  and  no  association 
whatever,  secular  or  religioiis,  have  any  authority  to  prescribo  to 
tho  Faculty,  to  interfere  with  their  functions,  or  to  call  them  to 
account.  The  State  has  determined  their  responsibilities.  The 
right  of  prescription,  interference,  or  of  any  control  conceded  to 
one  religious  body  would  involve  a  concession  of  the  same  to  all 
similar  bodieg.  What  is  conceded  to  the  Protestants,  the  Catholics 
may  equally  claim.  What  is  conceded  to  the  Methodists  or  Pres- 
byterians, all  other  protestant  sects  may  equally  claim.  Nay,  what 
is  conceded  to  religious  sects  must  be  conceded  also  to  those  who 
belong  to  no  sect.  We  might  thus  have  various  codes  of  morals, 
various  rules  of  discipline,  and  conflicting  laws  of  duty  :  And  we 
certainly  should  have  little  independence  or  discretion. 

The  institution  has  laws  stringently  enforcing  faithful  study,  good 
order,  and  good  morals.  With  respect  to  religious  duties,  every  student 
is  required  to  attend  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath  in  whatever 
church  his  parent  or  guardian  shall  direct.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  Faculty  are  required  to  have  daily  prayers  for  the  students. — 
The  duty  of  conducting  prayei'S  is  not  imposed  particularly  upon 
the  President,  or  upon  any  member  of  the  Faculty.  How  and  by 
whom  the  duty  shall  be  performed  is  left  under  tho  direction  of 
that  body. 

Now  if  the  Faculty  faithfully  fulfill  these  laws  in  respect  to  reli- 
gious services,  no  one  has  a  right  to  find  fault  with  them.  If  more 
services,  or  difi"erent  services  are  required,  the  Regents  aro  the 
proper  authority  to  order  them. 

In  a  strictly  sectarian  College  or  University,  the  President   and 

professors,  if  ordered  by  the  body  to  whom  it  belongs,  to  inculcate 

their  creed,  and  to  abide  by  their  ecclesiastical  organization,  may 

^  indeed,  be  compelled  to  move  in  a  contracted  sphere,  but  they  will 


29 

liave  a  clearly  defined  position,  and  need  never  ]>e  in  doubt  as  to 
the  religious  management  of  the  institution.  l?ut  if  a  Stato  Uni- 
versitj,  in  belonging  to  no  sect  in  particular,  is  consigned  to  all  the 
sects,  to  be  censured,  dictated  to,  and  called  to  account  at  their 
pleasure,  it  will  only  serve  to  exemplify  the  fable  anew,  where  an 
attempt  to  please  every  body  ended  in  pleasing  nobody,  and  made 
the  actors  supremely  ridiculous. 

The  only  practical  alternative  is  that  of  committing  an  institution 
of  learning  to  one  sect,  or  to  none  at  all.  Stato  institutions,  of 
course  are  committed  to  none  at  all. 

From  the  liberal  course  which  the  Colleges  and  Universities, 
attached  to  particular  denominations  in  our  country,  have  generally 
pursued,  led  on  by  the  generous  and  elevated  spirit  of  learning,  or 
influenced  by  our  free  political  institutions  and  public  opinion,  I 
find  on  a  comparison  of  the  rules  of  our  State  University  respect- 
ing religious  services  and  moral  discipline,  with  those  of  the  lead- 
ing denominational  institutions,  no  important  difi'erenco  whatever. 
All  alike  inculcate  strict  morality  and  honorable  conduct :  all  aliko 
require  a  daily  attendance  upon  prayers ;  all  alike  require  an  atten- 
dance upon  divine  worship  on  the  Sabbath  :  And  those  institutions, 
such  as  Yale  and  Harvard,  which  have  a  University  preacher  of  the 
denomination,  excuse  those  students  whose  parents  or  guardians 
request  it,  from  attendance  on  the  College  Chapel,  in  order  tha* 
they  may  attend  the  services  of  churches  which  have  their  prefer- 
ence- This  is  all  that  the  best  regulated,  the  most  popular,  the 
most  influential  and  successful  institutions  of  our  country  undertake 
to  do,  whether  they  be  denominational  or  not ;  and  this  is  just  what 
the  University  of  Michigan  undertakes  to  do.  These  services  man- 
ifestly x-equire  no  particular  denominational  superintendence,  and 
no  infusion  of  the  particular  tenets  of  any  sect.  Far  less  do  they 
require  the  mutually  jealous  and  necessarily  conflicting  superinten- 
dence of  many  sects.  It  would  be  a  portentous  distinction  to  draw 
between  a  denominational  and  a  State  institution,  that  the  first  is 
under  the  control  of  one  sect ;  the  other  under  the  control  of  all 
sects ;  that  the  first  is  embalmed  in  the  brotherly  love,  and  defended 
by  the  watchful  jealousy  of  one  sect ;  the  other  divded  among  the 
opposing  interests,  or  thrown  as  a  prize  among  the  rampant  compe 
titious  of  all. 


80 

The  presence  of  benign  and  charitable  religion  should  pervade 
the  hearts,  and  hallow  the  hands  of  men  in  all  human  organizations 
and  offices  ;  but  it  does  not  thence  follow  that  the  object  of  all  is 
directly  to  inculcate  religious  doctrines  and  duties.  It  were  well 
that  all  our  legislators,  judges,  and  State  officers  generally,  as  well 
as  our  men  of  business,  were  religious  men.  Heavenly  thoughts 
and  prayerful  habit.s  would  be  great  safeguards  of  virtue  and  pledgea 
of  integrity  everywhere.  It  would  be  exceedingly  desirable  that 
all  teachers  from  a  common  school  teacher,  to  a  University  professor, 
should  be  men  of  piety.  But  the  prime  object  of  a  seminary  of 
learning  is  not  like  that  of  a  church,  to  inculcate  religion  or  per- 
form its  services ;  but,  to  afford  education.  If  wo  are  content  in 
our  common  schools  with  proper  fitness  to  teach  the  required 
branches,  and  a  good  moral  character,  why  demand  denominational 
qualifications  in  the  higher  institutions  ?  And  why  force  the 
church  into  the  State  University  any  more  than  into  our  hails  of  leg- 
islation or  on  the  bench  of  judges  ? 

The  Regents  of  the  University  have  ever  regarded  themselves  as 
State  officers,  and  not  as  the  representatives  of  special  religious  or 
political  interests.  I  believe  their  proceedings  will  defy  scrutiny 
on  this  point.  In  only  one  instance  within  my  knowledge  has  an 
appointment  been  made  with  reference  to  denominational  connections. 

Before  I  left  New  York  to  take  charge  of  the  University,  I  was 
informed  by  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Regents,  that  the  Board 
deemed  it  expedient  to  fill  Profcsssor  Whedon's  place  from  his  own 
denomination.  When  I  arrived  in  Michigan,  I  was  advised  with  by 
highly  respectable  gentlemen  in  Detroit  and  Ann  Arbor,  belonging 
to  that  denomination,  on  the  subject.  I  found  that  such  an  expec- 
tation existed.  The  consequence  was,  through  my  own  instrumen- 
tality, Professor  Haven  was  elected.  He  was  a  gentleman  who  I 
had  reason  to  believe,  possessed  the  requisite  professorial  qualifica- 
tions. His  denominational  connection  was  to  me  no  objection. — 
Indeed,  neither  in  his  case,  nor  in  that  of  any  other  professor  elected, 
was  it  to  me  a  matter  of  any  personal  consideration.  The  appoint- 
ment proved  satisfactory  to  all  parties  ;  and  never,  during  his  resi- 
dence with  us,  did  I  feel  that  he  was  a  denominational  representa- 
tive ;  I  regarded  him  as  a  truly  liberal  man  as  well  as  an  efficient 
officer. 


31 

But  farther  reflection  made  it  perfectly  plain  to  mc  tliat  the" 
principle  of  denominational  representation  could  never  with  safety 
bo  adopted.  I  found  from  the  public  prints  as  well  as  from  various 
conversations  that  the  idea  was  getting  abroad  that  appointments 
were  to  bo  made  on  that  principle,  A  clergyman  of  another  denom- 
ination wrote  me  a  letter,  bringing  before  me  the  claims  cf  tho 
body  to  which  he  was  attached.  It  was  evident  that  tho  experi- 
ment ought  never  to  be  repeated.  Should  a  precedent  bo  once 
established,  there  would  be  no  end  to  the  difficulties  and  evils  in 
which  we  would  become  involved.  I  bclievo  the  Begents  were 
unanimously  of  the  same  opinion.  One  thing  ia  certain,  no  appoint- 
ment has  since  been  made  with  any  reference  to  denominational 
connection.  After  Dr.  Brunuow  reached  Ann  Arbor,  I  for  the  first 
time  asked  him  whether  he  were  a  Catholic  or  a  Protestant,  when 
he  informed  me  that  he  was  a  Lutheran  protestant.  Dr.  Haven, 
who  brought  Professor  Winchell's  name  before  the  Board  of  Be- 
genta,  affirmed  that  he  was  ignorant  of  his  denominational  connec- 
tion. Prof.  Frieze  was  known  to  be  an  Episcopalian,  but  he  was 
elected  through  the  instrumentality  of  Prof.  Boise,  himself  a  Bap- 
tist. Dr.  Ford  and  Prof.  Wood  were  elected  while  we  were  entirely 
ignorant  of  their  denominational  connections.  Messrs.  Clarke  and 
Brooks,  alumni  of  the  University,  were  known  to  be  Methodists,  but 
this  did  not,  as  I  am  aware,  have  the  least  influence  in  their  ap- 
pointment as  assistant  professors.  Messrs.  Peck  and  Trowbridge 
Were  elected  without  any  knowledge  on  our  part  of  their  religious 
predilections.  Mr.  White,  although  known  to  be  an  attendant  in 
the  Episcopal  Church,  was  elected  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
Congregational  president,  and,  among  others,  of  Congregational 
clergymen  and  professors  at  New  Haven,  who  valued  him  so  highly 
that  they  were  desirous  of  having  a  chair  of  History  endowed  for  him 
in  Yale  College.  As  for  myself,  my  name  was  first  brought  before  the 
Begents,  without  any  knowledge  of  the  fact  on  my  part,  by  George 
Bancroft  who  is  not  a  presby  terian,  and  until  of  late  has  been  accounted 
a  Unitarian.  Sure  I  am  that  I  was  not  elected  for  my  presbytcrianism. 
I  have  always  disclaimed,  as  I  now  disclaim,  being  the  representative 
of  my  sect,  in  the  University.  I  should  deem  myself  wholly  unfit  for 
my  place,  were  I  willing  to  be  considered  in  that  light.  As  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  University  of  Michigan,  I  claim  to  be  an  officer  of  the 


Htate.  1  hiivc  been  ciilled  here  by  uo  eccle«iastical  body  ;  and  a.- 
I'resideut  of  the  University,  I  am  accountable  to  none.  I  have 
been  appointed  under  an  express  provision  of  the  Constitution.  I 
have  been  appointed  by  Regents  elected  by  the  people.  I  am 
accountable  directly   to  them,  and  to  the  people  through  them. 

As  to  religious  duties  in  the  University,  there  is  nothing  specially 
assigned  to  the  President.  The  execution  of  the  requirement  that 
the  students  shall  attend  Divine  Worship  on.tho  Sabbath,  and  the 
jiiaintaining  of  daily  prayers  are  not  committed  particularly  to  the 
President.  The  ordinance  of  the  University  requires  these  duties 
of  the  Faculty  and  consequently  of  the  President  only  as  one  of 
the  Faculty.  The  Faculty,  however,  have  by  common  consent 
committed  the  daily  prayers  to  the  President.  The  manner  of  per- 
forming this  duty  has  been  left  entirely  to  himself,  and  I  am  not 
aware  that  he  has  not, fully  met  the  approbation  both  of  the  Faculty 
and  tbe  Regents. 

The  religious  duties  imposed  upon  the  President  and  Faculty  by 
the  Regents,  are  all  that  can  be  required  of  them  as  officers  of  the 
Institution.  * 

But  the  question  here  arises  are  there  any  additional  duties  which, 
as  private  christians  they  can  with  propriety  exercise  towards  the 
students  committed  to  them  ?  There,  certainly,  are  various  ways 
in  which  religious  instruction  can  be  given;  by  graceful  and  apt 
episodes  in  the  class  room  when  the  subject  naturally  suggests  them  ; 
by  employing  scientific  truths  to  illustrate  natural  theology ;  by  the 
easy  familiarity  of  daily  converse  opened  by  the  relation  of  teacher 
and  pupil ;  by  visitations  in  sickness  ;  by  rendering  themselves  ac- 
cessible to  the  students  as  religious  advisers  ;  by  habitually  manifest- 
ing a  parental  interest  in  them ;  by  maintaining  the  attitude  of 
experienced  and  earnest  friendship  ;  by  a  pure  and  upright  example ; 
and  by  the  exercise  of  all  those  tender  charities  which  are  as  remote 
from  sectarian  bigotry,  they  are  near  the  vital  heart  of  Christi- 
anity. 

Separate  from  the  institution  the  spirit   of  denominational  and 

/    proselytism  ]  and  you  can  admit  the  gospel  under  its  purest,  most 

benignant  and  redeeming  aspects.     Indeed,  in  a  State  institution  of 

learning,  where  youth  who  have  been  nurtured  under  every  variety 

of  religious  opinion  are  congregated,  the  strict  inculcation  of  the 


33 

peculiarities  of  any  one  sect  would  be  far  less  successful  than  d 
familiar  teaching  of  those  fundamental  principles  of  the  gospel, 
which  are  generally  admitted.  Hence  that  very  religious  influence 
which  alone  is  admissible  in  a  State  University,  would  be  that 
which,  in  its  very  nature,  is  calculated  to  do  most  good.  But  no 
specific  rules  can  be  laid  down  on  this  subject  :  every  thing^will 
depend  on  the  good  sense,  truthfulness,  and  tact  of  the  teacher  him- 
self. The  part  of  the  Regents  is,  to  take  the  utmost  pains  to  pro- 
cure professors  who  are  qualified  for  their  office,  and  then  to  trust 
to  their  uprightness  and  discretion ;  always,  of  course,  holding  in 
reserve  the  power  to  check  imprudence,  and  to  correct  evils.  In- 
deed a  well  selected  body  of  professors  will  so  assimilate  as  to  check 
and  regulate  each  other. 

Since  I  have  been  acquainted  with  the  University  of  Michigan, 
there  has  been  an  entire  harmony  on  religious  subjects  among  both 
professors  and  students.  Denominationalism  and  proselytism  have 
not  appeared  among  us,  and  yet  much  healthful  religions  influence 
has  been  exerted — as  much  I  believe  as  in  any  other  institution  of 
learning;  and  with  consequences  no  less  marked  and  happy 
As  to  myself  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  I  have  con- 
scientiously endeavored  to  make  the  daily  religious  services  as 
effective  as  possible.  Beyond  this,  at  the  Sabbath  morning  prayers, 
I  have  always  given  brief  practical  remarks  drawn  from  the  passage 
read.  And  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  I  have  generally  given  a  lecture 
either  on  natural  theology,  or  the  evidences  of  Christianity,  or 
morals,  or  on  some  point  of  practical  Christianity.  Attendance  on 
this  lecture  has  always  been  at  the  option  of  the  students.  This 
lecture  has  also  been  open  to  the  public. 

I  have  never  learned  that  either  the  professors,  the  students,  or 
the  public  have  charged  me  with  any  appearance  of  sectarianism  or 
proselytism.  If  in  any  religious  efibrts  on  the  part  of  the  professors 
or  myself  beyond  what  is  prescribed  by  the  University  ordinance, 
there  have  been  any  improprieties  or  excess,  we  are  open  to  correc- 
tion and  restraint  from  the  Regents — the  legal  guardians  of  the 
University.  But  while  we  hold  ourselves  amenable  to  the  Regents, 
we  claim  exemption  from  the  authority  of  all  ecclesiastical  bodies, 
either  as  imposing  on  us  duties,  restraining  our  actions,  or  censur- 
ing our  measures.     Legally,  such  bodies  have  no  right  to  extend 

5 


34. 

their  authority  over  ns  in  any  way  :  Morally,  they  have  no  power 
to  aid  us,  from  the  very  fact  that  what  one  attempts  all  have  an 
equal  right  to  attempt;  and  that  therefore  as  tlieir  advice  or  pre- 
scriptions would  not  be  likely  to  harmonize,  their  interference  would 
only  serve  to  confuse  and  embarrass  us. 

One  of  the  most  effectual  ways  of  promoting  religion  among  the 
students  is  to  afford  every  encouragement  to  their  voluntary  associ- 
ations for  religious  purposes,  such  as  the  Student's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, and  the  Christian  Library  Association.  The  latter  is  espe- 
cially to  be  commended  to  Christians  of  all  denominations,  and  to  all 
persons  desirous  of  aiding  the  best  interests  of  the  Institution. — 
G-ive  us  religious  books  :  Give  us  as  freely  as  you  please.  Give  us 
the  noble  works  of  the  old  English  Divines — of  the  established 
church  and  of  the  Dissenters.  Give  us  the  excellent  works  of  our 
/American  Divines  of  all  Schools.  There  the  books  will  stand,  open 
to  the  choice  of  the  students.  Each  one  can  consult  his  own  taste 
and  peculiarities ;  and  all  can  profit  by  the  spirit  of  Christianity 
nobly  diffused  through  so  many  channels.  Perhaps  an  opportunity 
thus  afforded  of  consulting  the  choice  works  of  the  great  and  good 
men  of  all  parties  will  lead  many  a  mind  to  adopt  the  grand  and  Cath- 
olic sentiment  of  Cyprian :  "The  Church  is  one,  which  by  reason 
of  its  fecundity  is  extended  into  a  multitude,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  rays  of  the  sun,  however  numerous,  constitute  but  one  light ; 
and  the  branches  of  a  tree,  however  many ,  are  attached  to  one  trunk, 
which  is  supported  by  its  tenacious  root ;  and  where  various  rivers 
flow  from  the  same  fountain,  though  moisture  is  diffused  by  the 
redundant  supply  of  waters,  unity  is  preserved  in  their  origin." 
"■  The  University  as  an  institution  of  the  State,  open  to  all  the  peo- 
ple of  the  State,  and  affording  to  them  the  means  of  the  highest 
education,  is  a  symbol  of  the  essential  union  of  all  religious  sects, 
and  of  all  political  parties.  We  are  all  Christians,  we  are  all  Amer- 
ican citizens.  Whatever  may  be  our  differences,  we  have  a  common 
agreement — a  common  interest  in  the  great  subject  of  education. — 
It  is  the  part  of  wisdom  to  preserve  the  University  intact  from  the 
questions  on  which  we  difier,  and  to  maintain  and  foster  it  purely  as 
an  educational  institution.  The  Regents  and  Faculty  may  have 
their  own  opinions  on  politics,  their  own  attachments  for  the  sects 
\to  which  they  severally    belong,  their   own  views  on  questions  oi 


35 

moral  reform  These  as  men,  and  as  American  citizens,  they 
claim  to  entertain  in  perfect  freedom,  without  any  interference,  or 
any  rebuke.  But  they  would  violate  the  trust  reposed  in  them,  did 
they  allow  these  to  influence  their  measures  in  respect  to  the  Univer- 
sity. 

The  groat  principle  in  respect  to  the  management  of  the  Univer- 
^iity  is  very  plain,  and  commends  itself  to  the  common  sense  of  every 
one  ;  and  that  is,  that  it  is  to  be  left  to  the  Regents  who  are  ap- 
pointed by  the  people  for  that  purpose,  and  who  make  an  annual 
report  of  their  doings  which  every  one  may  read.  The  irresponsi-' 
ble  reports  of  newspaper  writers  who  write  under  fictitious  names  ;l 
and  who  when  they  do  not  manufacture,  like  scavengers,  collect 
gossip,  are  of  little  worth,  except  they  be  regarded  as  humorous  ad- 
vertisements of  the  University.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  people 
of  Michigan  know  the  difference  between  fancy  sketches  drawn  at 
a  distance,  and  facts  and  statistics  given  over  the  signatures  of  the 
legal  guardians  whom  they  have  themselves  elected.  The  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan  has  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of,  and  nothing  to  con- 
ceal. There  is  nothing  that  it  desires  more  than  to  be  fully  known 
to  the  people  to  whom  it  belongs.  If  there  be  any  individuals  who 
are  not  satisfied  with  the  reports  of  the  Regents,  let  them  come  and 
examine  for  themselves,  and  take  sufficient  time  to  make  themselves 
acquainted  with  the  University  in  all  its  departments.  Let  them 
come  and  introduce  themselves  to  the  President  and  Professors, 
and  every  facility  will  be  afforded  them.  Let  them  not  merely 
walk  through  the  grounds,  but  let  them  visit  the  Library,  the  gallery 
of  Fine  Arts,  the  Museum,  the  Laboratory,  the  Observatory,  and 
attend  the  lectures  of  the  Professors  and  the  examinations  of  the 
students.  Every  thing^here  is  open  to  the  public  eye.  Si  monu- 
mentum  quaeris,  circumspice — Do  you  ask  for  the  evidences  of  our 
doings,  look  around.  Here  are  laid  the  stable  foundations  of  a 
magnificent  institution.  Nay,  here  already  exists  an  institution  of 
which  any  people  might  be  proud.  Only  let  there  be  a  hearty 
union,  enlightened  councils,  and  an  honorable  appreciation.  Let 
political  and  sectarian  jealousies  and  competitions  never  invade  us. 
Let  all  idle  (questions  of  partition  and  removal  be  laid  forever. — 
We  have  greater  work  to  do  than  to  discuss  them.  Let  the  peo- 
ple see  that  the  State  University,  like  the  State  Capitol,  must  have 


36 

some  fixed  location ;  and  that  as  the  last  is  is  not  the  Capitol  of 
Lansing  because  it  is  planted  there;  so  neither  is  this  the  Univer- 
sity of  Ann  Arbor,  because  it  is  planted  here.  Nay,  develope  this 
University  to  the  grand  measure  which  such  a  name  implies,  and  it 
will  become  the  attractive  centre  of  so  wide  a  circle,  it  will  shed 
abroad  so  far  its  glorious  light,  its  enkindling  influence— that  even 
the  title,  University  of  Michigan,  will  be  too  limited  to  character- 
ize it:  it  will  be  the  University  of  the  great  North-west,  it  will  be 
one  of  the  great  central  institutions,  which  like  Leyden,  and  Padua, 
and  Pisa,  in  their  days  of  glory,  and  like  Paris,  Munich,  and  Berlin 
in  our  own  times,  are  the  Universities  of  Nations,,  the  fountains  of 
universal  civilization. 


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